RSS and Information Snacking

The web has taken note of RSS in a big way.

The standard is has been around since early 2001.  While there may be some confusion as to the meaning of the acronym (Rich Site Summary, Rich Document Format (RDF) Summary Stream, Really Simple Stream, and more), RSS syndicates and shares content.  I’m going with Really Simple Syndication.

RSS allows a user to select sites and topics that feature information that matters to them.  Rather than surfing through a number of sites and refreshing multiple times, the user uses an aggregator to subscribe to sites of interest.  The RSS aggregator pulls down the information at user-defined intervals.  The user goes to one application to “snack” on the news of their personal interest.

This Information Snacking increases both our personal productivity (less time spent chasing information) and the sheer volume of information we can consume.

There are a number of aggregators already on the market and the standard is a core technology in Microsoft Windows.

Original Post: June 25, 2005

About Michael Coates
I am a pragmatic evangelist. The products, services and solutions I write about fulfill real-world expectations and use cases. I stay up-to-date on real products I use and review, and share my thoughts here. I apply the same lens when designing an architecture, product or when writing papers. I am always looking for ways that technology can create or enhance a business opportunity .. not just technology for technology's sake. My CV says: Seasoned technology executive, leveraging years of experience with enterprise and integration architectural patterns, executed with healthy doses of business acumen and pragmatism. That's me. My web site says: Technology innovations provide a myriad of opportunities for businesses. That said, having the "latest and greatest" for its own sake isn't always a recipe for success. Business successes gained through exploiting innovation relies on analysis of how the new features will enhance your business followed by effective implementation. Goals vary far and wide: streamlining operations, improving customer experience, extending brand, and many more. In all cases, you must identify and collect the metrics you can apply to measure your success. Analysis must be holistic and balanced: business and operational needs must be considered when capitalizing on a new technology asset or opportunity.

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